Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-14
a FIVEY R1OTER.

Fro.L Ne Clncinncti Enauirar.


that it il Northern capital, Northern
means ana muscle that are developing
the mineral resources of the South. This
may hold good as to Chattanooga and
other points in the South, bur 1t does not
apply to Alabama and Birmingham.
There is an element in this State that will
rank in shrewdness with the keenest
Yankee, and type of manhood that
equals IN pluck, perseverance and
brains the best specimens in the North.
The names and the characteristics of
the men, as you learn them by inter-
course and study, suggest a cross between
the English Cavalier and the French
HuguenOt.
"a PINEY ROOTER."
One of the most interesting samples of
this class OF men found in the person OF
Henry f. DeBardeleben, an extensive
operator and owner of mineral lands, and
one of the pioneers of the iron business in
Alabama. He is thorough type of the
Southern Yankee, and can give bis
brother of New England several points
IN the game and talk and trade him out
of his boots. He is now engaged in build
ing two furnaces at Bessemer, a now
town some twelve miles south of Birmng-
ham. 1t is his purpose TO Manufacture
steel of the best quality at this point in
7. lnman, OF the Inman line of
steamers, and other Englishmen, and
in connection with the fur
naces they have purchased within year
some 40, 600 acres of coal and mineral
lands. Bessemer, which will be one of
the great towns of this region at no dis
tant day, is more favOrably located even
than Birmingham as to convenience. lux
Imposition to coal, iron, stone and the
essentials necessary to make iron aud
steel. AS an instance of the enterprise
shown and the methods used to build up
town, the iiberality of the founders Of
Bessemer may be mentioned. To anv one
who will locate here to manufacture any
article that requires coal and iron site
is offered free, water free for ten years,
and per cent. off for ten years for coal
and iron used.
spent very pleasant evening in con-
versation with Mr.. DeBardeleben, and
found him an exceedingly interesting
talker.
PPM piney rooter." he said. "Do
you know what that isf'
Eyes; guess you mean the kind OF
hogs we saw along the road that look like
sun6sh on legs, and seem able to plow a
furrow through a field in pursuit of an
acorn"
"Yes, that's it. We call 'em piney
rooters. You see was born in Alabama,
and OF course L don't amount to much
Our Southern people and papers don't
pay any attention to US, but let one Of
your Northern fellows come down and
invest little now, and our papers rave
over him. 1t is only within the last two
years that Northern capital has begun to
seek investment in our iron and coal
fields of Alabama. We developed this ter
ritOry and showed its possibilities before
there was ever dollar of Northern CAPT.
tai invested here"
'How long have you been in the iron
business, Mr.. DeBardeleben, and how
did you first come to be interested in il? %
l asked MIN.
"Well, became interested in it shortly
after the war. | was born in Autauga
County, in this State, and was interested
with my fatber-in-law in business. After
the war, when they began to agitate
the question of building railroads, we at
tended meeting at Montgomery, when a
company was ORGANIZED to build a short
piece of road. Railroad iron was then
bringing as high as $3.50 per ton. NY
father-in-law said: Henry, there must be
an enormous profit in railroad iron at
that price. We have the material. Why
can't we make iron and money IN Ala
bamap told him thought we ought to
be able TO do whatever tue Yanks did up
North. All we mad to do as to COPY
them. company was organized, and
we built the frat blast furnace at Ok
more, some seven miles from this point
This was in 1871. Somehow or other We
did not get the hang of the business, and
pig iron had fallen ton $50 a to, and we
failed and l retired. Thatwas my Water.
loo. ! went back to Prattville and re-
manned four years, but l never ceased to
believe that IRON could be made here OF
the best quality and at q good profit. |
became familiar with the coal and iron
fields. / spent several years IN prospect
ip :, and thoroughly satisfied myself of
- Ie extent of the coal and iron deposits
1have been over the Red mountain iron
Geld, a distance of 300 miles, several times
on loot. | am familiar with the ground
and the ores from Chattanooga to ITALIA
poosa. In 1881 | built the Alice furnace,
which was the beginning Of the iron busI-
ness - Birmingham. We can maze any,
Hi}4E,here that they make in PennsylYa-
RAJ
ssDo younAke steel?"
@No; butte will"
aHayo you the OresP
%ltsYes, right here in Alabama. We are
4 kslkloihg two fUrn aces at Bessemer for the
6p1e purpose u hanufacturjng steel.
am stalking all thai l am worth that we
can make ast GOOD kfeel in Alabama as
they do In the North. aEd want to live to
SEE mat day, and when Il is done shall
die content. - -
Hem, OeBardeIeben ban. done as much
- edlca . bis teliow-citizens aud teach
them 70 aysfaitb IN The pQssitilties that
lssbsddel in Shel lis and 3xliess OF Ala
; Mama a. 4 NY nan IL lhe State- OF course
iAwiil be lard 70 co4ysnce your egousti-
cal Norff1s I'm mani mai ttere are brains
Z cir capacity or capital enough in the
kouth. to prganiZe and develop such
mighty emit Tprises as we find bursting
i1fo axisfeDcs around Birmingham, but
tt1e faOt, nevertheless. ] write this to
hive tnst credit which Is due to your
French English-Americans Of the South.
When Abraham Lincoln issued his eman-
cipatou proclamation he liberated 10,-
600. 600 Of whites who needed freedom and
liberty worse than the poor, ignorant and
9enighted blacks.
AN EXCEPTION.
OF course every BODY is getting rich in
Birmingham. Z he hustle and crowd In
the streets are like Vine street used 10 be
in Cincinnati before the era OF reform
struck the Queen City and chilled her
genial currents. You hear all sorts OF
storie. about men VINO have made fabu-
lous sums Of money on small investments
in real estate, and II is claimed as .act,
which have as yet failed 10 lind disputed,
b. al "a Iu